JUST four weeks after news broke that hundreds of people would lose their jobs at a Basingstoke car dealership, a new group has come in to take over three of its garages – saving more than 30 jobs.

Snows Group, owner of 34 dealerships across the south of England, has agreed to take over the garages previously owned by City Motor Holdings (CMH) at the Houndmills Estate site, off Aldermaston Road South. 

The company has now opened Snows Citroën, Snows DS, and Snows Peugeot at the site and has re-hired more than 30 former employees of CMH.

Speaking exclusively to The Gazette, Neil McCue, group board director of Snows Group, outlined his company’s long-term vision for the site and what former City Citroën, DS, and Peugeot customers can expect from the group.

“This sort of a turn around doesn’t happen in business,” Mr McCue said.

“Four weeks, it has been a very quick turnaround, a lot of late nights, but we’re so happy to be taking over this site.

“To be able to get the former employees in as well and hear directly from them is important too. This is just the start of our vision for this site.”

He added: “This makes us the biggest motor dealer in Basingstoke. Basingstoke is a great place to operate for us and as a location is ideal.”

Last month scores of customers and ex-employees of CMH spoke of their shock and concern after the dealership went into administration – with bosses citing “poor trade” as the reason for entering administration.

But Snows has now agreed a new long-term deal, which will see the dealership operate from the site for a minimum of 15 years.

Since announcing it has reopened, employees have been working together to clean up the offices.

And for Mr McCue and Snows, the priority now is their customers.

“One concern many former customers have is over their service agreements,” Mr McCue said.

“Any deals will be honoured within the new Snows group and letters will be cascaded to former customers to let them know the details of this. Customers will not lose a penny.”

Mr McCue added: “The long-term lease indicates our commitment to the staff. 

“Their support has been incredible and we couldn’t have done this turnaround without them.”

Snows is now open for business in Basingstoke’s Houndmills Estate. Visit snowsgroup.co.uk.